Political Discussions

Virginia

Posted by clioandme • 10/05/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: battleground state, campaign 2008, mccain, obama, swing state, Virginia

The McCain campaign has decided to abandon Michigan and now I'm sensing some fear in a new battleground state, Virginia, where McCain has been devoting surprisingly few resources, considering the stakes.

www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14285.html

Virginia has a Democratic governor now, and its former Republican governor has declined to endorse the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Virginia's a really interesting state, with large amounts of people living in the Metropolitan DC area. Changes there have been altering the face of politics of the whole state, even if Republicans still matter in its General Assembly.

Anyway, this could get interesting. Last Democratic win in this state was back when there were old southern Democrats, 1964.

User Comments

10/05/08

Theresa111

I predict that this state will vote Democrat on November 4th. I am a mere 20 minutes from northrn Virginia and am familiar with the demographics, as you are.

Little Red Dog!!!

[reply]
10/06/08

MidwestMom

The article makes a good point. McCain couldn't shoot over to Herndon or Vienna for breakfast?!? I find that shocking.

McCain seems to have missed a prime opportunity to claim Virginia as home territory -- the summer fair season. Clifton days or Herndon days or any of the many small local celebrations would have been great places for a short visit, and would have allowed him to dominate the local news just by showing up. Now that it's fall, he could go to a football game, but he's so crunched, he won't have the time. I think that's why Cantor is calling for Palin to come in. What better role to play than the one Bill Clinton is taking on in small-town America? The problem is, she's a principal, and fast on her feet though she is, she's no Bill Clinton. In terms of credible surrogates (not just funds) Barack Obama has a clear edge.

[reply]
10/06/08

clioandme

One team is on McCain's side. Liberty University (Falwell) is making sure all its students are registered, preferably in Virginia, and it's given them Nov. 4th off so they can get to the polls. It's also driving them there. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95414732

[reply]
10/06/08

MidwestMom

I am surprised that Immigration hasn't been more strongly emphasized in NoVa. Or has it?

[reply]
1. 10/06/08
  
  clioandme
  
  I haven't heard it this year, but it's been a big issue in local politics, especially regarding enforcement by county officials.
  
  It could be that no one wants to alienate Hispanic voters right now.
10/06/08

jan4insight

One of the Repub operatives, I can't remember who but I think it was some advisor to Palin, called northern Virginia a hotbed of "communist terrorists" or some such inanity. Gee, Mark - you're in good company:-D

[reply]
1. 10/06/08
  
  clioandme
  
  I haven't quite got that story straight, but there was brief mention of it in the local news on my public radio station, WAMU. I guess name-calling is all they've got left.
2. 10/06/08
  
  jan4insight
  
  It was McCain's brother Joe who called it "Communist country" but of course he was just joking, oh yeah ~
  
  voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2008/10/joe_mccain_jokes_inner_s...
3. 10/06/08
  
  Anok
  
  It was reported by Fox news no less
10/06/08

clioandme

[wrong placement]

[reply]
10/06/08

Theresa111

Go Virginia. Go. Vote Democrat.

[reply]